Something Big Is Coming

We live in a small town in central Illinois. It’s a place where life is predictable and comfortable. However, occasionally something big happens that shakes things up a bit.

For those of you who do not live in a small town, you may not fully understand the significance of something big happening where you live. Let me assure you, people in small towns get excited when something big happens.

Case in point, a few years ago a very large culvert needed to be transported on the state highway that runs through our town. Measurements were carefully calculated to ensure that the oversize load could maneuver each turn. High lines were measured and it was determined that some would need to be adjusted to let the culvert pass under them. Timing was scheduled to have all of the necessary road crews, police, etc. on hand for the load to come through town.

Word spread fast. (That’s another thing about small towns.) As the word got around town, excitement built. Something BIG was coming to Fairfield!

And then it was gone. Oh, people talked about it for a few weeks and shared pictures they’d taken on their phones, but soon the hype was over and life in small town Illinois settled down again.

until. the. next. big. thing.

We are actually gearing up for the next big thing now. It’s to take place the first week of April. The eclipse. Fairfield is directly in the path – the region considered best for viewing the eclipse. We’re anticipating an influx of visitors that weekend and have planned a variety of activities – music and vendor shows, food vendors, camping on the county fairgrounds and more.

Excitement is building; it’s the talk around town. People have purchased their special eclipse glasses for safe viewing – and even t-shirts commemorating the event. I suspect when 2:00 pm arrives on April 8^th, residents will gather in their yards to watch the total darkness that is to descend. There will be a sense of awe.

LOOK! There it is!

And then it will be gone. People will continue to talk about it for a few weeks – maybe even share pictures and/or videos they’ve taken – but soon the hype will be over and life in small town Illinois will settle down again.

until. the. next. big. thing.

I have to pause and wonder. Do we get as excited about the biggest thing coming? Bigger than any culvert? Bigger than an eclipse of epic proportions? Christ is coming! That is BIG news. We don’t know the exact date. In fact, scripture tells us that no one will know the exact time. But we can be assured that Jesus IS coming again.

Matthew 24:42-44 says, Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. But know this: If the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into. This is why you also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Do we have a sense of awe about that? Are we excited about His return? Are we making preparations? Are we telling our friends and neighbors? Are we sharing our faith stories with the lost? Are we praying for them?

Christ is coming! And not just to small town Illinois. Will you be ready?

Written by Jeanette Cloyd. 
Jeanette Cloyd’s days are busy working alongside her husband Brent who is the Associational Mission Strategist of Greater Wabash Baptist Association, caring for their son Brock, visiting her dad and the other residents of the Assisted Living Facility in Fairfield where they live, and doing volunteer work. At day’s end, she spends time indulging her creative side by making cards, which can be seen on her blog Cre8tive Play, Facebook, and Instagram.